What radiolabelled substance did Hershey and Chase use to label the protein component of the bacteriophage in their study to determine whether protein or DNA was necessary for phage production?
A) nitrogen
B) carbon
C) sulphur
D) phosphorus
E) iodide

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Hershey and Chase used sulfur to label the protein component of the bacteriophage because sulfur is found in proteins (specifically in the amino acids cysteine and methionine) but not in DNA. This allowed them to trace the fate of the proteins during the infection process.

What Radiolabelled Substance Did Hershey and Chase Use to Label